Sea and Sea MX10

Any combination of the following:

    o Get closer to the subject.
    o Dive in clearer water.
    o Get a camera (or housing) that allows you to place the strobe
      further off to the side.

Given that you have an MX10, consider adding either the wide-angle lense
or the close-up lens to allow you to get closer.

--
    Charlie Hammond -- Compaq Computer Corporation -- Pompano Beach  FL USA
           (hamm @peek.ppb.dec.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
      All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

You are probably going to continue to have this problem somewhat with the mx10
because the flash only fires straight forward and is relatively close to the
lens.  

There are some techniques that I learned when I was using this camera.  (Most
of these come from Joe Liburdi's Sea & Sea Book, which you should definately
get!)  

1:  Shoot with close-up and macro lenses, and get as close as you can to the
subject.   The more water you get rid of the better your chances.

2:  Obviously try as much as possible to shoot in clear water.   This is
especially important when using the standars lens because of the greater
distance.   And by all means, make sure that you and your buddy aren't stirring
up the bottom!

3:  When you are in lesser vis. situations, you might try shooting down towards
the bottom.  This is especially good when the bottom is sandy, as the bottom
temds to blend in with the scatter.

4:  I've been told that you can take the flash off from the camera and hold it
at a 45 deg. angle to  the subject and it will fire via infra-red remote?   I'm
not sure this is true, but if it is,  its one of the best way to minimize the
backscatter problems.

Above all else, just keep shooting!   every once and a while you'll get a great
one,   and that makes it all worthwhile!  And even most of the pros will tell
you if they get two or three really good ones in a dive, they have had a great
day?
Robert K.. Jarman
BobJar @aol.com